Page 4 of Fated to the Panther (Mated to the Monster: Season 3)

Chapter

Four

ROANE

M y healing had never been quicker. Must be having my mate in my arms. Who even now was wiggling her curvy form, which ramped my claiming instinct to astronomic levels. “Kara, stop right now, or you may find yourself on your back sooner than you’re ready for.”

She froze against me, but even that didn’t relieve my rising need. Would anything at this point, now that I had my mate in my arms?

“How do you know my name?” Her demanding words echoed throughout my jungle home.

With a reluctant sigh, I relaxed my hold and immediately regretted it as she slid down my body, her hip bumping against my aching and growing erection.

She marched around the room, running her hands through her long blonde hair, which had come free during the pursuit. I was momentarily mesmerized by her beauty and her fortitude. Any other female may have fallen apart much sooner.

Her body vibrated with pent-up emotion and watching her pace fed my panther’s need to chase our mate. Kara was glorious, awe-inspiring, and her lack of fear of me filled me with confidence that I’d soon be planting my seed in her womb, doing my part in advancing the prophecy my brothers and I had lived under for nearly a millennium.

“You were just pursued by demons and that’s what you’re concerned about?”

At my words, she whirled around, her mouth open to respond. Instead, she slammed her full lips together. Her gaze dropped to the top of my thighs, landing on my straining cock, her eyes wide with shock, but also filled with a curiosity that gave me hope.

The pain of my erection had reached a level I’d never encountered in my centuries-long existence. If this wasn’t proof she was mine, then nothing ever would be.

Instead of blushing or acting uncomfortable about my nudity, my mate directed her gaze away from my midsection, then resumed stomping through my home. “So, this is really a treehouse? If you weren’t bald, I could almost imagine you being Tarzan. But where’s the monkey?” She paused next to the bed, then obviously thinking better of it, she continued checking out the space, next stopping at the table I’d spent hours making.

She ran her hands along the glossy finish and jealously filled me by that innocent gesture. She had no idea how close I was to giving her no choice. But it had to be her choice. I would die before ever hurting her.

Her eyes dipped again to my cock. A sweet blush bloomed on her face before she narrowed her gaze and shrugged her shoulders before she moved away and finished walking around my home.

Not sure how to feel by her reaction to my obvious desire for her, I grabbed a pair of pants, pulling them on carefully as I tucked myself in. But I left the top button undone in deference to comfort and a healthy dose of masculine pride.

“No monkey, but if the image turns you on, I’ll play. Me Tarzan, you Jane.” Thumping my chest, I offered her a grin. My humor did the trick, and her gaze focused back on me. But I wasn’t prepared for the smile that lit her face. If I thought charming her would be that easy, she quickly slammed that door in my face and busted out laughing.

Tears soon streamed down her delicate face, her shoulders shook, and her full breasts bounced. If I hadn’t been a goner from my first scent of her, I was now truly done for. And just like that I was hard as steel—again.

“I’m glad you find me amusing, but I assure you, I never joke around about these things. I realize how intense all of this has been for you. Not many humans would have done what you’ve done or held up as well as you have after being chased by demons. Would you like to sit? I’ll get you some water. Take some time and then I can answer any and all questions you have.”

Her features morphed into an “are you kidding me” look. “Sure, let’s ignore that minutes ago you weren’t a sleek, monster-sized panther ripping apart demons. Or how about the bullet wound. Where’d that go? And yes, when I’m processing, I often turn to humor. But have no doubt, I’m not some helpless female. I’m not without defenses. Now, if you don’t mind, tell me how you know who I am then tell me who you are. Then, if you would so kind as to show me the best way out of here so I can get back to my camp.” Jutting her chin, Kara crossed her arms, lifting her ample breasts. All of it, her words and posture telegraphing the unspoken part, “or else.”

She was spectacular, but challenge noted and accepted.

I wiped my jaw making sure I hadn’t been drooling during her short speech. “So, you think my panther handsome?” I couldn’t help myself. I had this feeling that dialing down the tension between us was the best way to deal with my beautiful mate. Even though Kara seemed to be handling our situation well to this point, I didn’t want to push her much further. At least not tonight.

“Did you hit your head? Or maybe you’re used to getting by on your brawn and good looks? No need to answer that, but if you could point me in the direction of the bathroom.”

“Sure, right outside I’ve got a bucket and—” Again, it was too easy to tease. Maybe it was the influence of the demons, maybe it’s the high I was feeling from finally, finally discovering my mate that made me act like an adolescent.

“Oh, my god. Please tell me this treehouse has running water, and I really don’t have to go outside and pop a squat? Even our base camp managed to have a latrine.”

I’d never seen someone go from imperious and demanding to incredulous and horror-filled this quickly, actually ever. She hadn’t been this upset when I’d burst through the underbrush and taken out the demons chasing her. Yeah, I needed to dial it down a few notches.

“I was only teasing. Trying for a bit of levity to help you deal with… what you just went through. So, first, I’m sorry. And second, my name is Roane Smythe, and this is my home away from home. The bathroom is back there.” I pointed toward the screen behind her in the corner to the left of the bed. A bed big enough to hold three of me. A bed I’d made with my mate in mind.

Earlier, I’d noticed how Kara had skirted the bed when she was pacing. You’d have to be blind not to realize this one room, as big as it was, was the entire living space. And that there was no second bed.

There were only two locations for one hundred percent privacy, and they were the bathroom and the deck outside. There also weren’t any comfy couches or recliners for lazing around or napping.

Except for the pillow-top mattress I’d paid a fortune to have shipped to the nearest city.

Needless to say, there was no Amazon two-day delivery in the Amazon jungle, and I’d hauled the mattress myself after my truck had taken it until the road ran out. But it was all going to be worth it. Just as soon as I figured out a way to approach Kara without making myself look like someone who had no experience wooing a woman, especially when I didn’t. Not really.

How to explain to this glorious woman, “ Um, you’re mine, I’m yours. We’re fated. The Fates chose you for me and…”

“Hello! Where’d you go?”

Jerking my head at her words, I blinked, then refocused. “I uh, trying to deal with the aftereffects of jumping through the portal to reach you.” This was not quite the beginning I’d imagined for us, but I could fix this. I saw the swirl of questions in her bright hazel eyes, and I wanted to answer every single one. The questions already asked and all the ones to follow.

“So, how about you freshen up, I’ll make us dinner, we’ll eat, then I’ll tell you everything you want to know. Sound good?”

With a nod and a sigh that shouldn’t have been sexy but it so fucking was, Kara lifted her right hand and ran her fingers through her hair, lifting silky strands of gold. There were bits and pieces of plants and forest muck sticking out all over her head and her clothes, but it did little to take away from her allure. And the primal call urging me to make her mine. But first, dinner.